2018-08-07 P&E Agenda - Attachment 1 to Item 3 - Noosa Biosphere Reserve 10 Year Periodic Review

                                                                              Noosa Biosphere Reserve - Periodic Review 2018




Vegetation clearing and fragmentation:

Although the 2006 Noosa Plan has been effective in controlling development, there is still clearing of
vegetation particularly within the urban footprint. For example, koala habitat trees are sometimes
cleared on approved development sites or from illegal clearing. In collaboration with the Queensland
Government and NPA, NSC is coordinating the development of a significant land conservation project
that will protect and enhance a total of 2400ha of koala habitat within the NBR. The project also helps
aid the conservation of many other significant species and habitats. A number of other community
groups are expected to become involved in this project that will take the next 10 years to deliver.

Erosion and sediment:

It is estimated that a significant amount of sediment, particularly from the Kin Kin catchment, has
washed into the Noosa River as a consequence of land management practices. Through LiDAr
analysis, erosion hotspots have been identified and riparian restoration projects aim to help reduce
sediment washing into waterways.

Direct impacts on wildlife:

Impacts on wildlife include entanglement with fishing lines, nets and plastic, as well as collision with
vehicles and boats. Some species such as turtles and koalas are very vulnerable to these types of
hazards resulting in a gradual population decline.

There have also been changes to migration and mobility of certain species. Natural habitat elsewhere is
diminishing so fauna species such as flying-foxes are becoming more urbanised, taking advantage of
backyard gardens. Recently, flying-foxes have moved into two urban areas within the Noosa Shire.
Predation, vehicle strike and changes to natural fire regimes can also affect the survival of certain fauna
species.

Declining species:

Some experts advise that the NBR can still be subject to species decline consistent with other areas of
the SEQ. For example, Table 11 below identifies a number of species that appear to be on the decline
over the last two decades. The declines in the SEQ region could be due to development, or disease.
Secondly, some of these species are at the margin of their northerly extent in Noosa and populations
can fluctuate.

Table 11. – Declining species, NBR
COMMON NAME                          SCIENTIFIC NAME                    QLD NCA STATUS               EPBC STATUS
Green tree frog                      Litoria caerulea                   Least concern               -
Eastern tiger snake                  Notechis scutatus                  Least concern               -
Common death adder                   Acanthophis antarcticus            Vulnerable                  -
Stephens banded snake                Hoplocephalus stephensii           Least concern               -
Bearded dragon                       Pogona barbata                     Least concern               -
Frilled neck lizard                  Chlamydosaurus kingii              Least concern               -
(note: local population at
Noosa Heads)
Nobbi Dragon                         Diporiphora nobbi                  Least concern               -
Gould’s Monitor                      Varanus gouldii                    Least concern               -
Greater glider                       Petauroides volans                 Vulnerable                  Vulnerable
Northern quoll                       Dasyurus hallucatus                Least concern               Endangered
Spotted-tailed quoll                 Dasyurus maculatus                 Vulnerable                  Endangered
Koalas (potentially                  Phascolarctos cinereus             Vulnerable                  Vulnerable
declining in coastal areas)
Source: (Presentation by Dr Scott Burnett, University of Sunshine Coast, Noosa Parks Association, 2/3/2018)




                                                                                                                    Page 38